Last summer, a federal grand jury indicted eight men in connection with a scheme to bribe then-Connecticut House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, into killing legislation. The legislature was crafting a bill that would have subjected roll-your-own tobacco shops to taxes and fees, and shop owners and their friends attempted to use disguised contributions to then-Speaker Donovan’s congressional campaign to buy his help in shutting down the aforementioned legislation.

All eight defendants have been convicted, and four – campaign finance manager Robert Braddock Jr., Smoke House Tobacco co-owner George Tirado Jr., Smoke House Tobacco employee Benjamin Hogan and former prison-guard union president David “Buffalo” Moffa – have been sentenced. All asked to be spared prison time, but U.S. District Court Judge Janet Bond Arterton was not moved.

Mr. Braddock will be going away for three years, while Messrs. Moffa and Tirado will be behind bars for two. The most lenient sentence is that of Mr. Hogan, who will be in the pen for a little less than two years.

I’m glad Judge Arterton has been tough on the Donovan defendants. Free and fair elections are essential to the democratic process, and attempts to corrupt them should be dealt with swiftly and severely. If offenders are let off with wrist slaps, it will be difficult for America to be the world’s brightest beacon of freedom. Not to mention, it will signal to others that it pays to give one of America’s main ideals a nose-thumb.

As far as I’m concerned, harsh sentences are especially warranted in the Donovan case. It’s no secret that in recent decades, many Connecticut political figures have been caught in corrupt acts, convicted and sent to prison. As I’ve asserted before, the fact that the Donovan conspirators thought they could get away with their shenanigans despite this record epitomizes stupidity and arrogance.

Awaiting sentencing are campaign manager Joshua Nassi, Smoke House Tobacco co-owner Paul Rogers, Wolcott businessman Daniel Monteiro and Ray Soucy, another former prison-guard union official. Hopefully, they will be dealt with as harshly as their partners in crime were.

About the author

Matt Stevens - Editorial writer. Matt joined the Republican-American in October 2010. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2009 with B.A. in political science and criminal justice. He also earned an M.A. in print journalism and public affairs from American University in 2010. While in graduate school, Matt interned for the Washington, D.C., Trade Journal CEO Update.
Email: mstevens@rep-am.com
Phone: (203) 574-3636 ext. 1490